Mediation involves one neutral third-party (the Mediator) who guides the parties through the separation/divorce process by assisting the couple to address the issues that need to be resolved. Due to their neutral role, mediators cannot advocate for or provide legal advice to either party. Within the Collaborative Process, each party has legal representation from their respective collaboratively-trained lawyer to protect their rights and interests.
There is no requirement for Mediators to also be lawyers, however even when qualified Mediators are lawyers, due to their neutral role in the mediation process, they cannot advocate for or provide legal advice to either party. As such, typically each party will need to employ a lawyer to finalize agreements reached through the mediation process.